United Methodist Church Of Westlake Village

Send us a textWhat does a gardener have to do with Easter? Everything, as it turns out. Moving beyond the familiar imagery of empty tombs and stone rolled away, we explore how John's gospel subtly portrays the risen Christ as a gardener – a profound theological statement inviting us back into Eden, but this time with Jesus tending the garden alongside us.Having journeyed through Lent using the Grace of Les Miserables as our guide, we reflect on the powerful garden imagery throughout scripture. From Eden's initial divine-human partnership, to Gethsemane's night of agonizing prayer, to Revelation's vision of restored paradise, gardens mark pivotal moments in our relationship with God. The Easter garden where Mary encounters the risen Christ completes this narrative arc, suggesting that resurrection isn't just about conquering death but about restoring us to our original purpose – co-creating with God.Easter begins a fifty-day season of feasting that follows Lent's period of fasting